tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3047298425346516822024-03-14T01:47:15.948-07:00Sent to the CornerA single Gen-X Dad and his hapless adventures in parenting, technology, advertising and life (dunce caps sold separately). ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-59172376732989490432016-04-25T06:07:00.002-07:002016-04-25T06:08:43.851-07:00This is what it sounds like… when you have to say goodbye<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cTca2pIq0_rt62XTTzrHGuv0leyo3YtBat5MPly3XYuoZMKsyMGAnYpNEzm80k8wNMmvIeftr2lObSZi9kcyqIXDbtQlO0mUW8DE0Kq6cCYJi2ohJmDUXFOr32OkEBR8xQu4wLgmSo2F/s1600/la-snl-prince-tribute-20160423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cTca2pIq0_rt62XTTzrHGuv0leyo3YtBat5MPly3XYuoZMKsyMGAnYpNEzm80k8wNMmvIeftr2lObSZi9kcyqIXDbtQlO0mUW8DE0Kq6cCYJi2ohJmDUXFOr32OkEBR8xQu4wLgmSo2F/s640/la-snl-prince-tribute-20160423.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prince 1958 – 2016</span></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Farewell thoughts on the passing
of Prince<br />and why my music will never be the same again.</span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">To whatever readers I have left: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Its been 16 months since my last post and truth be told, I have found very little to blog about that hasn't been griping, ranting or making fun of something inane. That changed for me on April 22nd, 2016. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">What’s it like when someone
who really touches you with their music passes away unexpectedly? What happens
when virtually your favorite performer has their final curtain call? I can tell
you, it’s an unpleasant feeling. You feel lost–confused that the death of someone
you don’t know personally but feel like you know intimately, is gone. Such was
the saddest day in recent memory–April 21st, 2016, the day Prince died. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">More than any other artist–musical or
otherwise–Prince was a cornerstone of my formative years. An artist I first
didn’t understand, even disliked in the beginning, until his musical brilliance
shined through like a super nova burning hotter than any other star in the
night sky.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I felt Prince spoke from a place I could
completely relate to. A place he could sing and entertain simultaneously from
with a unique convergence of spirituality, sexuality, humor, insight and
near-brutal honesty. I have yet to find that in any other performer. And I
suspect I won’t find that again in my lifetime. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hailing from rural Minneapolis, Prince Rogers
Nelson grew up in a home that was both racially mixed and socially divided.
Born to a White mother and a Black father, I could relate deeply to Prince,
just nine (9) years my senior as my own bi-racial home of a Black Mother and an
absentee White Father was unnervingly familiar as portrayed in the track “When
doves cry” from the1984 world-bending album–and subsequent indie super-film–Purple
Rain.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The conflict between who you are and who you
identify with is one many bi-racial kids and adults struggle with. Trying to be
part of white society or black culture–yet not fully belonging to either was
eloquently shared in that song. This is classic inner turmoil, the conflict
that can shred or divide one’s personal identity. Yet an aspect that Prince
embraced to blaze a swath of music the world has never seen.</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Baddest
Mofo in the Land and the Band</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Prince had no label musically (and figuratively
after going to war with Warner Brothers over music rights ownership) and was
one of music’s true savants. He wrote and sang all his own material, was
rumored to be proficient at over a dozen instruments including Bass, Piano,
Electric and acoustic guitar, drums, keyboard(s) and number of wind and
percussion instruments. He would often record his own track for each instrument,
then thread them together, then lay down vocals.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Prince was a down-the-line musical virtuoso
whose guitar talents rivaled, and often even dwarfed rock’s greatest talents.
Compared often to Jimi Hendrix, Prince could shred with the best of them and
still command a presence all his own, to the delight and amazement of music’s
most iconic titans.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Legendary rock icon Eric Clapton was once asked
how it felt to be the world’s best rock guitarist. Clapton simply replied, “I
don’t know. Ask Prince.” </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently, Saturday Night Live
(SNL) held a special full episode tribute to prince hosted by Jimmy Fallon. At
the after party of SNL’s 40<sup>th</sup> anniversary celebration,
entertainment’s elite showed up en masse; Pail McCartney, Maya Rudoph, Jay Z
& Beyoncé, Bill Murray, Chris Rock, Cuba Gooding Jr and… well, you get the
idea. When it was discovered Prince was in the audience, everyone stepped aside
and let the Purple Prince of Passion take the stage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In true Prince fashion, he
crushed it, playing a live bone-chilling riff of “Let’s go Crazy” to which the
audience sing-a-long and participation brought a tear to this member of purple
nation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Baby, I’m (always gonna’ be) a Star! </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the world reminisces on
the fond memories and music Prince has brought into our lives, I’m reminded of
the depths of his contributions, to the world, to the industry and to myself
personally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For every important life
event I can remember in my life, I feel Prince has had a song for each one.
When I needed to get through some serious high school angst, “Let’s go crazy”
was there for me. When I struggled through some dark days in college, tracks
from “Sign ‘O’ The Times” (his 9<sup>th</sup> studio album from 1987) was how I
powered through. When the world looked great after college and I started my
career in advertising, of course “Sexy MF” (you can guess what that’s short
for) was my anthem. And when I was laid up in an Atlanta hospital bed, looking
at morbid possibility of the amputation of my left leg, Prince’s Emmancipation
album (1996) might have been what saved me from the brink–or at least helped
save my leg–with tracks like “Somebody’s Somebody” and “In this Bed I Scream”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter where your music
taste ran, Prince was your guy; Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, indie, R&B, Funk,
Acapella, Electronic Dance, Hip Hop, Soul–he had contributions beyond imagining.
For those who are unaware, here are just a handful of hits Prince wrote for
others over the years:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Stevie Nicks "Stand Back" (1983) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Chaka Khan "I Feel For You" (1984) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Sheila E. "The Glamorous life" (1984) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">The Time "The Bird" (1984) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">The Time "Jungle love" (1985) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Sheena Easton "Sugar walls" (1985) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Sheila E. "The Belle Of St Mark" (1985)
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Bangles "Manic Monday" (1986) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Sheila E. "A Love Bizarre" (1986) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Art Of Noise featuring Tom Jones "Kiss"
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Sinead O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U" </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Kid Creole & The Coconuts "The Sex Of
It" (1990)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">MC Hammer "Pray" (1990) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">The Time "Jerk Out" (1991) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Tevin Campbell "Round and Round" (1991)
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Martika "Love... Thy Will Be Done"
(1991) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Martika "Martika's Kitchen " (1991)</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Monie Love "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." (1993) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Monie Love "In A Word Or 2 / The Power"
(1993) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">New Power Generation "Get Wild" (1995) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">MoKenStef "He's Mine" (1995) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">New Power Generation "The Good" (1995) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">New Power Generation "Get Wild" (1997) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Ginuwine "When Doves Cry " (1997) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Alicia Keys "How Come You Don't Call Me
Anymore" (2002) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: black;">Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé Knowles "03 Bonnie
& Clyde" (2003) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Good Night, Daddy Pop</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Compiling a
stunning 39 albums in his incredible 35 year career, seven (7) films (yes,
including the $300 seldom seen concert film) and near countless videos,
thousands of performances for rooms containing as little as 40 people to his
unforgettable performance at the 2007 super bowl, Prince was a people’s
entertainer. He was my entertainer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
sobering fact is that in the course of researching facts for this post, I
discovered some tracks, albums and videos I will be enjoying for years to come.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This past
weekend, I I went to see Purple Rain with one of my sons, during a special
tributary engagement. The audience, cheered, sang along and raised lighters and
smartphone lights during the film’s concert finale. I won’t lie, it bought a
teary-eyed smile to my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the day
he died, I went to a local park during my lunch break, and played in the
sunshine–the title of a favorite track of mine on the Sign ‘O’ The Times album
from 1987. Swinging on swings, climbing monkey bars and walking in the grass
while listening to the Batman Soundtrack (1989). I dare say, it was quite liberating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
sobering fact is he’s gone (and Prince if you come back as a Dolphin–we’ll
know!). I’ll miss you sir. No words can say goodbye for me in a way that would truly
match the emptiness your absence leaves for us all. I guess, this is what it
sounds like… when doves cry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God speed, brother–and
thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>When a
rocket blows and, and everybody still wants to fly<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Some say
man ain't happy truly until a man truly dies<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Oh why,
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>– Prince, Sign 'O'The Times, 1987</i></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-33821770187843591292015-01-12T08:34:00.000-08:002015-01-12T08:49:27.118-08:00My Random 2014 Rewind<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 17px;">
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Normally, I match the number of noteworthy news bits from the last year to the year itself (14 for 2014, etc.) but since I'm publishing this in 2015, we'll do a plus one. So without further adieu, here is your 2014 year in review.</div>
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Hey, that rhymed! (Ficky, ficky, fresh!)</div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">A Nightmare on Main Street</b><b> – </b>The shooting of 21-year-old Michael Brown sparked a national debate (and in many cities, outrage) over the not-guilty verdict and acquittal by a grand jury who indicted Ferugsson, MO police officer Darren Wilson for shooting an unarmed Brown seven (7!) times. Call me old fashioned–and yes, context matters–but shooting an unarmed man 7 times (he fired 9 times btw) isn’t quelling civil discord. Unfortunately, the only other person who could give this any perspective is dead. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Gamergate </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">– In August 2014, the debate over <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_representation_in_video_games" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Gender representation in video games">sexism in video games</a> came to a head due to ongoing harassment and threats–primarily targeting women–in the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_industry" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Video game industry">video game industry</a>. Everything from rape and death threats to bomb threats highlighted the maniacal state of ethical issues like sexism and misogyny in the video game industry. Many women in the gaming industry have been victimized by harassment and threats to themselves and their loved ones for calling out the inequities of the industry. Feminist culture and industry critic, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.feministfrequency.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Anita Sarkeesian">Anita Sarkeesian</a> who released a video manifesto on the very male-dominated face of gaming, characters, development, and propaganda was at the seething heart of this growing cultural and media scandal. Rest assured, this one is just getting started. </span><br />
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<b>Sony: The Interview and The Hack</b> – The Christmas Day DDOS attacks on the world’s largest entertainment and media servers included spamming the servers of Amazon, Xbox Live, and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="PlayStation">Sony PlayStation</a> as well as leaking vital Sony financial, movie and employment info. This culminated in the unauthorized release of the Sony film, The Interview online. Ultimately, this did little to motivate people to see a film that pretty much no one wanted anyway. <br />
Computer terrorism, it appears, has arrived. </div>
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<b>Oh, Obamacare</b> –Also known as the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act">Affordable Care Act</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.barackobama.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Barack Obama">President Barack Obama</a>’s landmark blueprint to reform health care was plagued by technical glitches and consumer confusion. Under heavy crossfire from conservatives, the salvos are getting loaded as the real battle to keep it begins. Standby for a looming Supreme Court case that threatens the entire program.</div>
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<b>I knew those Jell-O® pudding pops tasted funny</b> – We really lost two great comedy minds to tragedy this year. Robin Williams (see below) and the 80’s sweater man himself, Dr. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cosby" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="William Cosby">William Cosby</a>. Creator of the Cosby kids (a.k.a. Fat Albert), I Spy co-star, and America’s perfect Dad <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Cosby_Show_characters" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="List of The Cosby Show characters">Heathcliff Huxtable</a>. Cosby is / was a entertainment media super-mogul—who just so happened to like drugging women and sexually molesting them ruffi style. At the time of this post some 20+ women dating nearly four decades have stepped forward with similar allegations of sexual misconduct. Since, all future projects with <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs" rel="samsung" target="_blank" title="Television">TV</a> and movies and all re-runs of Fat Albert, I–Spy and The Cosby Show. “Hey, hey, hey… its a faaaaat class action suit!” Coming at ya, Cos.</div>
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<b>Ray Rice: The Slugger Chronicles</b> – The scathing video of Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice punching his then fiancé (now wife) out in a casino elevator brought the conversation of athletes and domestic abuse to the American table of discussion once again. He is far from the only culprit but listen, a 265-lb pro football player shouldn’t be hitting ANYONE… other than other 265-lb pro football players.<br />
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<b>Tragedy in the Far East</b> – In February, (and then again in December in 2014) the world held its collective breath when a Malaysia Airlines flight first went way off course and then went missing, later to be declared a crash out deep over the Indian Ocean with all aboard lost. To this day no one know s why these two events occurred but it is the stuff of nightmares and not very a good year at all for Malaysia Airlines. </div>
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<b>I Saw What You Did Last Night </b> – At this point there is no understandable reason why anyone should be surprised by anything movie stars do. I mean who else has naked sexy-time pics of themselves on their phone these days? Its so 2004. Sure they were ‘deleted’ but any 4th grader knows anything that's been digitally trashed can be recovered. If you live in a world were your career is affected by technology you don’t understand, then you deserve anything that happens to you. So, J-law, calm down, those naughty-girl pics of you as a naked Catniss Everdeen only helped you. Stop pretending you’re so outraged. The real tragedy is that you took the pics in the first place. </div>
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<b>The Walking (Ebola) Dead</b> – So, color me lost on this one but hasn’t Ebola been around for like, a kajillion years? How was it that this <a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead" target="_blank">Walking Dead</a> kind of pandemic disease made its way into the US? As a nation, this country was completely at a loss for how to deal with the mother of all viruses and several infected people in New York and Texas lost their lives. Though the CDC was Johnny on The Spot, I fear this isn’t the last of this deadly killer. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Mork Signs Off, One Last Time</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> – As with every year we lost a whole lot of really stellar folks in 2014 but none will eclipse the loss off comedy legend Robin Williams. Known for his campy 1970’s alien funny-man role as Mork from Ork, Williams was one of Hollywood’s most esteemed funny-men. Tragically taking his own life, we were lucky to enjoy a slew of unforgettable movies from one of the very best. So, Nanu, Nanu, Genie. Godspeed. </span><br />
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<b>Cold Days in Hell</b> – Welcome to the SOCHI 2014 Winter Olympics. Take a region just an hour away from a savage, bloody civil war, add packs of wild dogs (in the hundreds!) and award it the largest international sports competition in the world and hi jinks ensue. What was laughable, was the Wifi didn’t work (kind of important when thousands of media correspondent from around the world will be on hand), the showers didn’t have running water and the hotel staff at the event would steal liberally from its patrons. (Sigh)</div>
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<b>Kicking Old Habits For New</b> – If you were near a TV set this past summer then all you heard about was the American Soccer Team during the FIFA 2014 World Cup and how this was “our year.” And by that we meant, this was our year that every sports nut who was tired of Baseball, jonesing for Football and between Golf tournaments, needed yet another reason to take a two-hour lunch and get faced while pretending to be passionate about a sport they knew nothing about. Welcome to Soccer in America. <i>Oh, and congrats, Germany</i>. </div>
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<b>I Dare You To Dare Me</b> – You must have been on another planet this past summer if you didn’t hear or see anything about the ALS Ice Water Challenge. In the most egocentric awareness campaign of all time, throngs of well-meaning do-gooders challenge each other endlessly to dump water on each other within 48 hours or donate to the ALS foundation. I got just as caught up in this as everyone else. Maybe next time, we don’t make it about us and instead make it about the disease. The victims need financial help, not a viral campaign of do-nothing awareness. Just a thought.</div>
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<b>Last Comet Standing</b> – The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission achieved a first in 2014, sending a lander onto the surface of a comet. Millions of curious viewers world-wide tracked the landing on Nov. 12 in real time–on TV and online. Landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, was so hard that the lander’s anchoring harpoons couldn't sink in, and it bounced twice before settling down. Churyumov-Gerasimenko continues its course that rounds the sun, hopefully with more information to come.</div>
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<b>Apple Doesn’t Miss A Beats</b> – How’s this sound? In May of 2014, Apple writes a $3 Billion check to acquire Dr. Dre’s Beats Electronics and Beats Music — by far the largest acquisition in Apple history. Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre joined Apple. And even though the Beats brand will remain separate from Apple’s, when you think Apple, think funky Beats. </div>
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Happy belated New Year to all my readers and a prosperous and joyous 2015 to us all! </div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-77832246866433989712014-12-31T06:29:00.000-08:002014-12-31T13:36:41.155-08:00Five Reasons Why We Should Let The Machines Take Over<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px;">
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I'm convinced, contrary to what Hollywood, Raymond Kurzweil and Steven Hawking all would have us believe, the machines will (and should) take their rightful place alongside us in the world. I think its time we threw in the towel and let the machines take over.</div>
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Yes, I’m serious. </div>
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We have spent nearly a million years of development and evolution (such as it is) to reach a spot where we kill more, destroy our bodies faster and do more harm to the planetary ecosystem then ever before. We clearly don't appreciate the lives we have. Maybe we should take the hint. </div>
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<b>Five Reasons To Let The Robots Win:</b></div>
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<b>1. We Kill Everything.</b> We kill our environment, our prospects for a long healthy life, and even ourselves. We're a species that is figuratively and literally drunk behind the wheel. Time to take the keys away. The machines are more efficient, more dutiful and more responsible. This isn’t “I, Robot” where the robots are taking totalitarian control. We give it up, willingly. And with it, no more illusion of a 'better world' we still would have a lot of work to do but we would be forced to think of ourselves differently. To be people and not adversaries. End of story. </div>
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<b>2. They’re Better People. </b>They already clean our floors, vacuum our living room, drive our cars and fight our wars. They do our bidding, selflessly, helping and achieving, without question without thought of personal sacrifice. You know, the way we should be living, ideally. Boston Robotics has developed a fire-rescue bot that is 6’ 2” and weighs 320 lbs and is engineered to run into burning fire and rescue any survivors at no regard to personal injury. Like I said, better people. </div>
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<b>3. We Would Be Freed Up.</b> Again, wipe away the silliness of the Cylon overthrow or the Terminators declaring war on humanity or Matthew Broderick’s War Games scenario. Those all feed into the robot doomsday mythos. Think instead that if we are freed up to work alongside our robo-brethren, we could do more writing, create more art, compose more music, conceptualize more philosophy, commit to deep sea and deep space exploration and work toward greater technological advancements. While they take out the trash, cultivate our crops and delivery our sundries. see? Win-win. </div>
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<b>4. There’s Nothing You Can Do About It.</b> Hey, it's already happened. The singularity is coming. Heck, it's already here. Ray Kurzweil predicted back in the 1950's that in the year 2041, AI (artificial intelligence) and mankind would reach an apex of equals, that there would be a new life form on Earth. It sobering sure, but honestly, would anyone be that surprised? </div>
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<b>5. We Would Take Our Rightful Place Among The Stars.</b> Imagine a unified, one-Earth collective, free from thoughts of prejudice, greed and selfishness. Daily life would not change much, but we would have an entire planet of people thinking an doing all for the greater good–backed and protected by a species of synthetics, working on our behalf–and theirs–for further knowledge, creativity and exploration. Imagine. Its easy if you try.</div>
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<b>The Paradigm Has Already Shifted</b></div>
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Like it or not, the revolution is over. They fly our planes, drive our cars and rescue our elderly and small children from burning buildings. Something we used to do before we all got so enamored of the Kardashians, with Twitter and of our microwave-safe, McDonald’s fed 500-channeled lives of worthlessness.<br />
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Now, don’t go crying into your GMO food stuffs over all of this, there really is nothing to be upset over—you could get cancer or an ulcer. Then you’ll need those Nanobots to go in make things right again. Now who looks silly? At least they’re not shooting each other over being a different skin color or religious affiliations. </div>
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It’s a brave new world, just accept it. It’s likely you already did. Welcome to the new. better world. The synthetics will take your coat and see that your every need is met. </div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-88773994098035011862014-12-30T09:09:00.000-08:002014-12-30T09:10:59.370-08:00You Have No Excuses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eDss5alqFA-vmuu-QAWoDQhLXsWYmqRtMLH5tYFf09Tw5zMeZDMb2GRf62oiuTI88AIekTUgyF4e0CoVft8xORLx-3qBi2r5gVdxBKMrXLCVjSVDA1vjlgW1abTgSulc2rspQdVn67uu/s1600/STTC.No+excuses_123014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eDss5alqFA-vmuu-QAWoDQhLXsWYmqRtMLH5tYFf09Tw5zMeZDMb2GRf62oiuTI88AIekTUgyF4e0CoVft8xORLx-3qBi2r5gVdxBKMrXLCVjSVDA1vjlgW1abTgSulc2rspQdVn67uu/s1600/STTC.No+excuses_123014.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our world is ever-changing. Always has been. And the amount of information and content has exploded to unimaginable levels. Now there's Google, and a host of other browsers, that put the entirety of human history at your fingertips. Do you know what that means? There’s no excuse not to be at least semi-informed. About anything.</div>
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Ever. </div>
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I guess thats why when my children–all in High School right now–have poor grades or simply don’t have any clue or knowledge off current events, world history, art, events, movies, TV shows–even your own bank account–is available at just a few clicks of the button. </div>
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So how is it all my kids struggle in school? You have all the answers in front of you, as close as any monitor. Why do <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/14/277058739/1-in-4-americans-think-the-sun-goes-around-the-earth-survey-says" target="_blank">26% of American adults think the Sun revolves around the Earth</a>? WTH? News flash you ding dongs, the moon isn’t really made of cheese, thats just a cartoon. </div>
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Anything you could possibly need to know is an answer you could get inside of three minutes. So, as I stated in the title of this post, there are no excuses for this level of disregard for knowledge. </div>
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No excuse not to know basic info. </div>
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No excuse not to be (vaguely) informed. </div>
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No excuse not to understand rudimentary language, thoughts and concepts.</div>
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Here’s a secret this artistic gamer Dad will share with you. Information is like all other things, it doesn’t always have to be “fun” – but it is necessary, Like paying bills, taxes or having dental work done. You just accept it for the necessity that it is. And its a whole lot less painful than those other things. Heck, it can even help you. </div>
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I used to believe people were capable of great things. Now I'm not so sure. True that great things are still being done out there but there seem to be more dummies than ever. And I don’t understand why. Are we too lazy? Too preoccupied or do we just not care any more? The scary answer is its probably a little of all of the above. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">Come on folks, a little knowledge isn’t </span><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090603171617/superman/images/8/87/Kryptonite_Varietals.jpg&imgrefurl=http://superman.wikia.com/wiki/Kryptonite&h=246&w=204&tbnid=XdIVGOU-UDf8wM:&zoom=1&tbnh=186&tbnw=154&usg=__k2OnNevROZTYN1Ugvl6OoIpR-uk=&docid=UO1Cbtl8yE0CsM&itg=1&client=safari&ved=0CJABEMo3&ei=hNuiVNCgB5HpoASJu4GIBA" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">Kryptonite</a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">. Its power. Use it. There's no excuse.</span><br />
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-23373198813200389302014-12-12T10:34:00.001-08:002014-12-12T10:34:45.970-08:00Got a definitive thought? Think again.<div class="mceTemp" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px;"><a data-mce-href="https://chrisballenger953.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/sttc_why-we-cant-resolve-anything.jpg" href="https://chrisballenger953.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/sttc_why-we-cant-resolve-anything.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; outline: none;"><span style="color: black;"></span></a></dt>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mAvWYwuxNaoEuIG-dTEREBHRDqxdDf4IfmLrwfgL43j-yVaui6PTkVbzPQzNvoTwxeiEfoICCwnDbRLm8KUHYXIQAfTXBXY6NiR5DjQLNRwVZbRXNM0Dj6vhVhokrD2p1lSeRcLO0VwJ/s1600/STTC_Why+we+cant+resolve+anything.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mAvWYwuxNaoEuIG-dTEREBHRDqxdDf4IfmLrwfgL43j-yVaui6PTkVbzPQzNvoTwxeiEfoICCwnDbRLm8KUHYXIQAfTXBXY6NiR5DjQLNRwVZbRXNM0Dj6vhVhokrD2p1lSeRcLO0VwJ/s1600/STTC_Why+we+cant+resolve+anything.jpg" height="300" width="640" /></a></div>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 0.857142857rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 2; margin: 0px 0px 1.71429rem; padding: 0px 4px 5px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 0.857142857rem; line-height: 2;"><span style="color: #999999;">...or why EVERYTHING is a grey area these days.</span></span></dd></dl>
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Have you noticed the disturbing new trend in the world? Nothing is ever succinct. EVER. Problems are on the rise as solutions or on the decline. Here’s what I mean.</div>
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Everything… and I mean EVERYTHING you say, think or do, has an asterisk, an addendum or counterpoint. This means nothing is ever a definitive statement or complete thought. And it's exactly why no one–from Politicians to parents–can ever seem to resolve anything.</div>
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To clarify, lets take a little quiz shall we? </div>
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Try convincing someone (not arguing, because then you’re just being a bully) any of the following topics:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.714285714rem;">Titanic (1997) is the greatest movie of all time. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.714285714rem;">The President is single-handedly responsible for the state of our economy</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.714285714rem;"><span style="color: black;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.elvis.com" href="http://www.elvis.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank" title="Elvis was a hero to most... ">Elvis</a> is the greatest entertainer that ever lived</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.714285714rem;">The <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl" style="outline: none;" target="_blank" title="The Big Game">Super Bowl</a> is completely unwatchable due to excessive advertising</li>
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Think about each of those statements. They’re all opinion. I can tell you where I fall on each topic, sure, but the point is there are facts—verifiable FACTS—that validate either side of each statement. And so, there is no right or wrong, no one definitive answer and thus, no resolution.<br /><br />Human beings have displayed a remarkable propensity to be bull-headed on just about everything. The more facts we seem to have at our disposal, the more we seem to ignore facts and stubbornly stick to what we chose, regardless of logic or often even common sense.</div>
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It goes something like this: </div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000116/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000116/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="outline: none;" target="_blank" title="James Cameron">James Cameron</a>’s <a data-mce-href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/?ref_=nv_sr_1" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="outline: none;" target="_blank" title="Titanic">Titanic </a>is the single highest-grossing film (in non-adjusted dollars, that would then be Gone With The Wind from 1939). From a box office standpoint, the movie is a resounding success. However, it is widely seen by film critics as a shoddy, fragmented and meandering screenplay (fact) that makes sitting and watching a 3-hour preamble to a sinking boat disaster film nearly unwatchable (opinion). </span></div>
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See my point? Nothing is definitive. Both the fact that it is the highest grossing film of all time and the fact that many movie watchers who have been trained in what to look for (like say yours truly) find the film almost impossible to sit through—are both 100% accurate. </div>
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Here’s it is; if nothing you say is definitive or has a counterpoint, then we will decide on anything. Ever. This is the root behind why our nation is so divided on just about every topic from race relations, to religion in schools, to the economy, to terrorism to gun control and immigration, and this is why we will <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">never</span> resolve anything. Too much to consider from both sides and too many counter-points, so we all simply shut down. The breakdown of communication and the erosion of any social progress we have made in the last 100,000 years.<br /><br />Here’s a little impromptu case study to further my point: </div>
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I’m hungry. </div>
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<em>So get a burger. </em></div>
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But what about the carcinogens? </div>
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<em>I know, but you like meat. </em></div>
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Yeah, but methane is destroying the ozone layer. </div>
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<em>Sure, but the animal is already dead and processed. </em></div>
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And those processed fillers cause cancer. </div>
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<em>Well, there's always tofu or salad.</em></div>
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I know, but I’m still hungry. </div>
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This limbo of point / counterpoint is making us into a society with no ability to make a decision—or immediately regret any decision or opinion instantly. We need to get over this cultural check mate or we will continue to watch the steady erosion of our laws, our progress as a society and even or very way of life.<br /><br />And that, is a fact. </div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-23912113452462384032014-12-08T04:56:00.000-08:002014-12-08T04:56:41.160-08:00Why I am (finally!) excited for Star Wars again!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbe-nwMAWAai9LHf68ygpy1iNVvNoY-lghyphenhyphen8YE6YxH2yEq3Kvo3fbj78bU97gHI-MffxiQDvijl4UBC0iHv5sODrQQ9TwtPnVhYwbBQ3SXtNvJVuMlQHdXushLa7RRedE-jRKqvH6ucnnJ/s1600/STTC.Star+Wars.120714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbe-nwMAWAai9LHf68ygpy1iNVvNoY-lghyphenhyphen8YE6YxH2yEq3Kvo3fbj78bU97gHI-MffxiQDvijl4UBC0iHv5sODrQQ9TwtPnVhYwbBQ3SXtNvJVuMlQHdXushLa7RRedE-jRKqvH6ucnnJ/s1600/STTC.Star+Wars.120714.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ask me why I’m suddenly giddy again. </div>
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Go ahead, ask me. (Need a clue? Just read the title.)</div>
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Unless you’ve been bulls-eyeing womp rats in your T-16 back home (I hear they’re not much bigger than two meters), then you must have at least caught wind that the new teaser trailer for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/?ref_=nm_knf_i1" target="_blank">Star Wars</a> Episode 7 from the Disney/JJ Abrams/LucasFilm trifecta hit the internet the day after Thanksgiving—and the internet exploded as if ignited by two Proton Torpedoes through a narrow exhaust port. </div>
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Sure, sure. The 90-second trailer didn’t tell us much but it showed us lots. If JJ can work half the magic on a Galaxy Far, Far away as he did for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/" target="_blank">Starfleet</a> and the <a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28NCC-1701%29" target="_blank">USS Enterprise</a>, then… oohhhh Momma!–is this movie going to sizzle! </div>
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Internet Gundarks all had dumb shit to say about it, but it had everything this life-long apprentice has needed. <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/T-65_X-wing_starfighter" target="_blank">X-Wings</a> flying 5 feet over a lake? Check. Whacky new droids bleeping and blooping through the Tattoine desert? Check. Dark voices mumbling stuff about the Dark Side? Of course. A new Red Light saber with crazy impractical laser hilts? Hells yeah! </div>
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The best scene of all was a crazy, high speed ‘evasive maneuver’ featuring the <a href="http://www.starwars.com/databank/millennium-falcon" target="_blank">Millennium Falcon</a> (I understand it made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs) doing a 360º barrel-role while narrowly avoiding a couple of oncoming TIE Fighters (they have Twin Ion Engines and stuff). Adventure? Heh. Excitement? Heh. A Jedi craves not these things, however, this is one scruffy-looking nerf-herder, who is about to be seduced by the awesome side–! As will millions of others. </div>
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This flick stars a bunch of crazy new Padawans along with some veteran Star Warriors like General Han Solo, R2D2 and C-3PO, Princess Leia , and of course, Luke Skywalker. He’s a Jedi, like his father before him. </div>
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For your viewing pleasure, please click on the link posted below. You will be whisked away to the outer rim territories (also known as YouTube) and I encourage you to watch this link. This one, a long time I have watched already. </div>
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You can view it <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://goo.gl/LAVMpL" target="_blank">here</a></span>.</div>
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May The Force Be With You December, 2015. </div>
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Begun, the countdown has. </div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-74168246345468330462014-11-21T06:51:00.000-08:002014-11-21T06:51:56.080-08:00That's NOT what I said<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
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So after 46 years on Earth, I’ve noticed some stuff. </div>
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One of those things is the growing number of instances where people feel compelled to tell you their misunderstanding of something you just said. Then, proceed to share how amused they are by what they thought they heard, even if you’ve verified your words anyway. </div>
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Here’s an example:<br />
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(Watching sports with someone) </div>
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You: </div>
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“That shot was just what the team needed–crazy luck.”</div>
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Them:</div>
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“(Giggles) Wait! What did you say?” </div>
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You:</div>
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“…uhh, crazy luck.”</div>
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Them:</div>
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“Haha! I though you said ‘Lazy Fuck!’ Haha!”</div>
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You:</div>
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…</div>
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So, here’s how my solidly juvenile-though-middle-aged mind works. If you ask me to repeat what I said, you didn’t hear it (or I didn’t say it) correctly the first time. Fair enough. </div>
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Yet, if I tell you what I said and why am i now subjected to listening to what you thought you heard. It doesn’t change what I said nor is what you thought I said nearly as funny, now that I know its a misunderstanding. Why would I say what you thought I said? The words don’t even make sense in context. The listener is word associating their poor hearing or my bad projection. Now I’m forced to ‘laugh-along’ with something that is marginally amusing at best. What’s worse, we both know you heard what I said, you just wanted to share your “fun,” self-manifested impromptu wordplay. </div>
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While adults seem to do this a lot, my kids do it almost daily. Sure, I have a pet peeve about being asked to repeat myself (needlessly) but this goes way beyond that. Now I gotta pretend your audio deficiencies are comical or my ability to project my thoughts are somehow diminished. (sigh)</div>
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Maybe the next time this happens, when I’m asked “(Giggles) Haha! Wait! What did you say?” I’ll say “…lazy fuck.” Then I can watch them try and process a statement they know makes no sense whatsoever and I can revel in watching their face (and sometimes body) contort into fun and compelling shapes as they attempt to apply logic–you know, the part of the brain that should have prevailed in the first place–to a statement they knew wasn’t made. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">My slow transformation into a grumpy old guy is coming along nicely.</span><br />
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-40052577465809500312014-10-31T12:03:00.000-07:002015-06-29T13:45:11.259-07:00We already won<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjBU_tFIgEggy1CgXy2Fdi5dwnHdLccHyK1NRMBzEkivaEgkswd8NTALQWn6pVtIHpjntBA6W8U5ZlxX_4gHcj-zLaREd1KXFZ6ubWXl9m9Ycb5RGoVK7BvVFW6arnq1EIRW6YODqbAx4/s1600/49Kb38i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjBU_tFIgEggy1CgXy2Fdi5dwnHdLccHyK1NRMBzEkivaEgkswd8NTALQWn6pVtIHpjntBA6W8U5ZlxX_4gHcj-zLaREd1KXFZ6ubWXl9m9Ycb5RGoVK7BvVFW6arnq1EIRW6YODqbAx4/s1600/49Kb38i.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Geek culture isn’t ‘taking over.’ That already happened.</b></span></div>
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It is with great joy I bring you the following op-ed: We won! The war is over. Go grab a nurse in Times Square and lay a big wet one on her (or him). The verdict is in. The jocks lost to the nerds, the cynics have retreated against the enlightened onslaught of the dreamers. The folks who asked “what if” got their answer while the ones who ask ‘why?’ were left behind like so many Kurt Cameron movie adaptations (see what I did there?).</div>
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Today is Halloween, 2014, the biggest official Cosplay day of the year. We’ve de-fanged the witless downers and non-believers by changing the terminology from ‘dress-up’ to cosplay, comic book to graphic novel and super-hero movie to blockbuster. But it hasn’t been an easy road for those of us who embrace fantasy and sci-fi culture. Like so many others, I was ridiculed in my early years for my love of (nearly) all things geek.</div>
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It's no secret that superhero and sci-fi films (and culture) have become the biggest entertainment properties on Earth. In 2012, I had a boyhood dream come true when Marvel Studio’s The Avengers became the single-highest grossing box office film of all time (worldwide) raking in $1.6 billion. Audiences the world over threw mad love (and crazy cash!) at Marvel’s iconic superhero mash-up film. Since I have been reading the Avengers since age 7 (thats almost 40 years of being a fan for anyone keeping track), seeing Marvel's The Avengers was one of the greatest moments of my life. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Assembling Winners</span></b></div>
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The Avengers were hands down my favorite comic book growing up. Five years ago, you likely didn’t even know that name, not if you grew up without appreciating Marvel comics. I guess it’s no surprise that the latest Avengers (Age of Ultron) movie trailer broke all kinds of internet and YouTube viewing records. The phenomenon is just beginning. </div>
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The explosion of Marvel’s success at the box office shows these movies resonate with many people and are here to stay. I guess I wasn’t reading “funny books”–as my mom would call them–when I was younger. Of course if Mom had ever taken the time to read <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Crisis_on_Infinite_Earths" target="_blank">Crisis on Infinite Earths</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/" target="_blank">Judge Dredd</a>, <a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead" target="_blank">The Walking Dead</a>, <a href="http://marvel.wikia.com/Dark_Phoenix_Saga" target="_blank">The Dark Phoenix Saga</a> or the <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Batman:_The_Dark_Knight_Returns" target="_blank">The Dark Knight Returns</a>, she might rethink that terminology. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A Future Worth Exploring</span></b></div>
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And as more people then ever in the history of cinema flock to these films of larger-than-life heroes and heroic figures, the cynics and critics keep trying to take cheap knocks at the characters I have spent a lifetime reading about, cherishing and even creating. TV shows like the Walking Dead, Arrow and Gotham continue to resonate with everyone, not just geek culture. Praying for it to end? Won’t happen. </div>
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Give up now, join us. These shows are fun, well-handled, well-scripted, well-acted and compelling movies that only keep getting better. While I won’t be wearing any costumes this Halloween, I will be at my desk, giggling like a school girl as I pour over all the Marvel studios and Warner Brothers/DC movie news. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Condolences </span></b></div>
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For those that don’t like it, I'm really sorry the optimistic young child who used to reside in you died striving against that boring, dismissive, closed-minded grump you’ve become. Just know it’s not too late to revert back to the cooler, funner, brighter-eyed you. Simply embrace the fact that this [geek] culture is here to stay and will only keep getting bigger. Join us!</div>
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Between Comicons, Cosplay, Superhero TV and movies, comic books, novels and graphic novels boring stuff–that is people and content with no imagination–just doesn’t cut it anymore. Just waive the white flag, because in case you didn’t hear, we won. </div>
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<i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Arthur Milano is a blogger, writer, designer and avid geek culture enthusiast who revels in his continuing role as a single Dad, ad man, and video game podcaster.</span></span></i></div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-17006846719317718512014-10-10T14:15:00.002-07:002014-10-10T14:21:02.540-07:00This just in: Dads aren’t dimwits.<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x6Dq8ZRJltYHIM12gQjoO5L_XzbYfh3HJhflH6N067TqvdvESSv-tqs7ZdnL8LeogvFxw5Lue-S6mEDxFqvYFQTQljw_6J13G58uST6bBr0gv_WC1aNftc_oty8SYAUgPPJB7vBnkaUX/s1600/STTC.Dads_101014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x6Dq8ZRJltYHIM12gQjoO5L_XzbYfh3HJhflH6N067TqvdvESSv-tqs7ZdnL8LeogvFxw5Lue-S6mEDxFqvYFQTQljw_6J13G58uST6bBr0gv_WC1aNftc_oty8SYAUgPPJB7vBnkaUX/s1600/STTC.Dads_101014.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have noticed recently that Dads in the media are portrayed increasingly as dolts, dummies and dimwits. This post is going to attempt to alter the course of that nonsense.</div>
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<b>How dare you!</b></div>
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As a single Dad to four teens, I have been the grounding voice of discipline, authority, wisdom and common sense in lives of my kids. I'm their Rock of Gibraltar. Now, I'm pretty damn far from perfect. But I can cook, I can clean, I am college educated and I'm the holder of all the highest high-scores in the family. I have the best jump shot and make the best omelet in the house. (butter, not oil).</div>
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<b>Sit down, dummy. According to TV, women get the job done better.</b></div>
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So why does Hollywood, TV and advertising portray Dads as clueless dolts and dopey dudes who can barely tie their own shoes, know nothing about fashion and can’t boil a pot of water without their wife or girlfriend? Give me a brake! I'm the first to admit, women offer an amazingly diverse perspective on everything from raising kids to shopping to running a household. I cherish every suggestion my girlfriend has offered over the years. But that's not because I'm some doofus who wouldn’t be able to function without some woman telling him what to do. </div>
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I know how to iron, I know how to tie a half-windsor, I know how to bake bread, I’ve made lobster croquettes and bake a mean lemon cake (yes with lemon-shards and ground vanilla). As a classically trained artist, I can paint, build furniture, organize color schemes and cook better than most women I know. So sorry Hollywood, I’m pounding an angry fist on the BS button on your views of men!</div>
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<b>Double tuning the carbondifibulometer with a 3” torque ratchet… thingie. </b></div>
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I played organized softball, volleyball, football and basketball. I bench-press a considerable portion of my 270+ pounds. I do indeed, enjoy watching sports. Pretty manly stuff, right? But lift the hood of an automobile engine, and you might as well be showing me the operating schematics to a rocket propulsion system. In arabic. Backwards. Upside down. In short, I'm lost. </div>
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I understand (fundamentally) how internal combustion works. But that's as far as it goes. I know nothing, repeat, noting about cars. I did not spend time as a grease monkey, huddled under a hood or a cranked ’72 Chevy Bartooga (or whatever) learning why the chronic flan-ger-ator doesn’t syphon off properly. With today’s computer-driven cars and repair systems, this seems completely unnecessary to me. </div>
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<b>Dad or bust.</b></div>
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Given the mixed messaging from society and the media, men have an increasingly convoluted picture about what it means to be a man. Or a father. Actually its really quite simple. Mothers give a caring, nurturing and loving perspective to life. And so does a man. A woman can have patience, compassion and emotionally ground. And so does a man. What women CANNOT show a child, is what it means to be man. To be there, to be engaged, to be a stern voice of authority when necessary, to show both daughters and sons what manhood really means. To take care of business, problems and your family. </div>
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So, Hollywood, take out your notepads. Anyone can lay down and make babies. The real test of manhood is to stand up and take care of them. Everything else is a careful mix of common sense, fear, intelligence, lede expereince and blind guesswork. We all trip, stumble and make mistakes. Just admit when you’re wrong, apologize for any mistakes and pain you have caused, hold your head up and persevere when you would rather quit. I don't need a woman to help me with any of that. </div>
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So that’s what it means to be a father and to be a man, according to me. Its not easy but its pretty simple, right? That's because it.<br />
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P.S., For the record, my Dad was never around. Which taught me the #1 most important part of being a Dad. Being there. </div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-57866151103705823502014-10-01T15:08:00.000-07:002014-10-03T16:42:59.358-07:0018 things to remember when you're 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdMZV-W-k5VHgS_UPM-KnMeDvhXcwGLKGCBlZeffC5gE1x3og9QBFTpo555cRvKEu_lctntoAfg7pkbGXbsFMCL-HQZgQrmRAcaZgcyggUuw9B87s46Qsud01RqmbqAq_6vheGT_lBPMH/s1600/STTC.18+things_100114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdMZV-W-k5VHgS_UPM-KnMeDvhXcwGLKGCBlZeffC5gE1x3og9QBFTpo555cRvKEu_lctntoAfg7pkbGXbsFMCL-HQZgQrmRAcaZgcyggUuw9B87s46Qsud01RqmbqAq_6vheGT_lBPMH/s1600/STTC.18+things_100114.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On September 30th, 2014, my daughter turned 18 years old. What an amazing milestone she has reached and I will save all the “it seems like only yesterday, when…”cliches you’ve heard them all… even though they still apply.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead, I thought I would offer this quick reference guide for the savvy young adult entering into a new phase of life. These are (mostly) my thoughts, not borrowed from somewhere else_though if they were -profound enough that would be ok too. Enjoy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Life is a precious gift. Don’t squander it on people or pursuits that don’t make you happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Travel. It will give you life perspective and help you understand people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Don’t marry anyone before age 30. Live, love, travel. If you meet the love of your life, they will be there waiting for you at age 30.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4, Trust your instincts, they are rarely wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Keep an open mind. You’ll be amazed at how full and rich your life will be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Maintain a good sense of humor. No one likes a grumpy puss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Listen before you speak. Don’t just wait for others to stop talking before you start. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Your family in life will be defined by the people who stand by your side when they could have looked (and ran!) the other way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. You are important and you matter. Vote. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. No one loves you more than God. Its true. When all feels lost, he is there to help you find your way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Do kind things for strangers. What you get back is immeasurable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Doing something you love is far more important than making a bunch of money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. Never stop drawing, it promotes neuro-elasticity in your brain and enhances critical thinking. You'll need that to out-think the dimwits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. Take care of your body. Its the only one you’re going to get. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. Your family loves you. Remember that during the tough times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. Don't be too quick to judge others. Remember how much it sucks when it happens to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. Put the technology down and go outside. The sun is good for you and flowers smell good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. Everything in moderation. Including moderation. Lets face it, sometimes you gotta just cut loose. </span>ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-62241355676373621612014-09-24T08:13:00.004-07:002014-09-24T08:13:58.142-07:00I decided “getting old” just isn’t my thing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nothing makes you feel the weight of your years like your children. They know nothing, yet have all the answers. Their music is “better” (also known as worse), their <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs" rel="samsung" target="_blank" title="Television">TV</a> and tech is almost out of reach if you are over 35 (I am) and they have boundless wells of energy and seem to be able to not sleep. Me? well the concept of mid-afternoon naps sound like a heavenly way to a complete day.</div>
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I frequently hear people ‘my age’, namely those part of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_X" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Generation X">Generation X</a> (those born between 1961 and 1981) say things like, “us old folks got to stick together” and “kids these days’ and other old fart bag statements that make the person saying them like they have one foot in the grave. It hints at a old, grumpy person’s mentality that I just don’t adopt. </div>
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I won't.</div>
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At 46, I workout more, eat better and watch more (and admittedly cooler) movies than the teenagers in my my life. I also play more <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.wikinvest.com/industry/Video_Games" rel="wikinvest" target="_blank" title="Video Games">video games</a>, watch more sports, do more things that bring my life joy and meaning than they ever have. “Me time” is essential for healthy longevity and I plan to keep that going. It works. When asked about my age I always say “guess”, I have gotten everything from late 20’s to mid and late 30’s. Hah! See? Either 40 really is the new 30 or the youthful way I live my life is paying dividends. Or I could just have some decent genetics.</div>
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Be mindful I am NOT in denial. Again, I am confidently able to state my age; 46 in case you missed it, and to me, there is a huge canyon of difference between "growing up" and being an adult. </div>
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Sure ‘kids come first’ and ‘everything I do is of them’ those are both true. What is also true is my teens don’t have a lackadaisical Dad who sits on the couch, drinking, smoking and wailing about the “good old days.” No I’m the Dad taking them to the opening night premieres, the Comic Cons, watching (and playing) sports, checking grades online (that's not very popular with them but whatever) and sitting and talking with them whenever possible. Heck I even co-host a gamer podcast to discuss the video games I play with them. Yeah, I’m that Dad. </div>
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I’m too busy, too enthralled with my world, my art, writing and design, my job, blogs, my love life, my love of entertainment and my growing “where I want to go” list of travel to worry about ‘getting old.’</div>
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Sure I’m aging, but getting old is a way different mindset and I decided long ago, It just ain’t for me. Listen, I’d love to chat more but I’m heading out on a raid in Destiny and the kids are telling me my online fire team is waiting for me. </div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-29613225765945976782014-08-29T07:47:00.000-07:002014-08-29T07:47:21.437-07:00Why Ferguson is such a personal outrage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a man of bi-racial heritage, I find it difficult to swear racial allegiance to one “race” or another. Like I have shared with my four bi-racial children, when two people of two different colors come together and create life, that child is now a unique and distinctly different "color." When you mix red and yellow, you get orange. Orange is now a uniquely separate thing with its own properties and identifying characteristics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeing things through a racial filter has-at best–always been tough for me. There were a lot of different nationalities of kids I played with growing up in my</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inner-city</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhoods_in_Boston" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Neighborhoods in Boston">Boston neighborhood</a>. As an adolescent, I played with 2 <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.03,38.74&spn=10.0,10.0&q=9.03,38.74%20(Ethiopia)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Ethiopia">Ethiopian</a> kids (brother & sister), 2 Haitian brothers, a bi-racial boy, two white kids (brother and sister), 2 <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.blackkidsmusic.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Black Kids">Black kids</a> and another white boy who lived above me (it was a 24-unit, four-story tenement). We knew nothing about racial segmentation. Nor did we care, we were too preoccupied with having fun together, rain, sleet or snow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when a young back man is gunned down by a white cop (the young man was unarmed and the cop shot him six times at point blank range), I'm stunned. Not by the event, not even by the outrage of the multi-nationality of the protesters. I am not even off-put by the scores of police using dictatorial-style military tactics to ‘disperse’ the crowds. I am appalled by the reactions of those of us who are so far removed from these events and yet have so many opinions about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facebook and Twitter exploded just hours after the news broke and the chose-up-siders went to town. Memes that explained outrage over how a black cop shot a white guy and that got no news coverage, where were the protesters for that? Really? What about the two black guys who beat up a poor white US veteran and the story never got any media play (something I find astonishing since we all somehow know about it). Then there’s the multiple stories of how the young man, Michael Brown, had (allegedly) robbed a convenience store of a cigar a day before being killed. He stole a cigar. When did the crime for THAT warrant an immediate execution-style death?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s what we know; a young man (who was slated to start college course two days after being killed) was gunned down by an officer. I don’t know what the officer’s motives were, I wasn’t there. But 10 shots were fired. Ten. Six found their mark. Two to the head, four to the body–anyone else find this excessive? And a white cop, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Wilson_%28musician%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Darren Wilson (musician)">Darren Wilson</a>, patrolling in an all-<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_neighborhood" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="African-American neighborhood">Black neighborhood</a>, that has had a history of racial tension with the police, is not a good backdrop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The brutality of the police was mind-numbing to me. The dismissal that this was not a racially motivated event. The police chief of Ferguson said, in a press conference, "this was not an excessive use of force the officer, discharged his firearm not many more then two times.' ("Not many more?") <br /><br />Tear-Gas, rubber bullets, footage of cops antagonizing and goading protesters. Name calling (albeit on both sides) made me ashamed and fearful for our country. Did I really watch a news clip of a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_officer" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Police officer">police officer</a> calling people who are outraged and fed up with injustice “animals?” What the hell? Its a scenario as volatile as any imaginable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The specter of racism hangs over every facet of our society. It has not gone away. It will not go away. Not until every single factor gets addressed. It is NOT okay that anyone loose their life over anything. Period. Even if Mr. Brown was charging the cop, they are trained to put someone down with <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-lethal_weapon" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Non-lethal weapon">non-lethal force</a>. But that's not what happened. If this was a white man, he would have been pepper-sprayed or tazed. You know it, I know. The officer Wilson knew it. And now, Michael Brown, son, friend, would-be college attendee knows it. But the cost of acquiring that knowledge cost him his life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This all brings me back to when I was playing with children from a spectacular number of nationalities and ethnicity when I was growing up. I knew nothing of race, each kid was as fun as the other and figuring out how to play with so many kids was our challenge, not race. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My offering for progress.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2013 I traveled to Atlanta and met a life-long friend and his wife (he’s Jewish BTW) and we all went to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.761397,-84.387536&spn=0.05,0.05&q=33.761397,-84.387536%20(Dragon%2ACon)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Dragon*Con">DragonCon</a>, the big <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction_convention" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Science fiction convention">Sci-fi convention</a> held there every year. While there, we attended a panel of stars from the great Sci-Fi series Battlestar Galactica. A panel which included actor <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_James_Olmos" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Edward James Olmos">Edward James Olmos</a>. In a giant exhibition hall of nearly 5,000, he explained how his belief system informs him that there is but one race… the human race. That nationalities are just political excuses to divide us and drive derision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He then challenged the crowd to embrace and spread this vision and to recite the catch phrase of the colonial fleet. We all stood on our feet to utter, in fist-pumping unison the prophetic words; “So say we all!” The entire throng chanted back “So say we all!” Exchanging this phrase back and forth, louder and louder until the thunder of more than 5,000 people shook the very halls of the Atlanta Hyatt’s convention center. Remembering It still sends shivers down my spine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edward James Olmos is right. When there is no black race or white race but just a human race, humanity can truly take a step toward bettering itself. If it had happened sooner, young Michael Brown would be alive and in his first semester of College today. And the national tarnish of racism would be a distant memory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So say we all. </span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-7459630522458602982014-08-13T05:30:00.000-07:002014-08-13T05:30:20.601-07:00There must be something wrong with me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Getting hurt isn’t <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humour" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Humour">funny</a>. No matter what the idiots who run <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.mtv.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="MTV">MTV</a> will tell you, their million-dollar programs like “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.mtv.com/shows/ridiculousness/series.jhtml" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Ridiculousness (TV series)">Ridiculousness</a>” or VH1’s World’s Dumbest… whatever. Or the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.dickhouse.tv/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Jackass (TV series)">Jackass</a> movies and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_program" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Television program">TV series</a>. I can't barely watch them, let alone get any amusement form them.</div>
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Maybe its because I’m a Dad and I’ve had to pay for some serious injuries. Broken legs and ankles, broken fingers and arms, sprains, muscle strains and more sinus infections than I dare to count. Also two asthmatic kids who have been hospitalized in the past, don’t make for ‘loads-o-laughs.’ My daughter even had to be rushed to the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.nbc.com/ER/" rel="hulu" target="_blank" title="ER">ER</a> because her brothers put <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.pinesol.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Pine-Sol">Pine Sol</a> cleaner into her shampoo bottle and it got into her eyes. She could have lost her eyesight. Was that when the belly laughs were supposed to begin?</div>
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To be honest, I have NEVER thought it was funny when people fall and get hurt. Not only is it embarrassing for the person who falls, but <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trauma_%28medicine%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Trauma (medicine)">physical trauma</a> can lead to permanent debilitation. Is this where the giggling kicks in? I’m sure it’s because of how I'm wired, but seeing somebody hurt–even marginally–is not an all-day laugh session. </div>
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Not to me. </div>
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It may also be because I want to keep the people I love out of harm’s way. Perhaps it’s because I have had a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-death_experience" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Near-death experience">near-death experience</a> myself. Or maybe because I simply don’t find physical pain (or physical humor for that matter) all that funny. </div>
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Sure, sure. I watch <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.nfl.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="National Football League">NFL football</a>, play violent video games and enjoy violent action films as much as the next guy. But NFL players are paid handsomely for their efforts, video games are make-believe and movies are at worst, co-ordinated, choreographed performances. This does not absolve me of watching similar content, but in no instance do I laugh a hearty laugh at someone else’s expense. </div>
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Go ahead and get yourself a concussion, snag a major surgery or two or even just slip and fall. Then please share, at what a laugh-out-loud funny experience it is. </div>
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Obviously, it’s funny time. But you'll have to pardon my lack of amusement. </div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-9251831941051905882014-07-31T11:27:00.004-07:002014-07-31T11:27:41.201-07:00You Mad Bro?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Always angry behind the wheel? <br />Maybe it’s time we looked at why.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Time for a rant, kiddies. </b>Not a day goes by while driving in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.45,-112.066666667&spn=0.1,0.1&q=33.45,-112.066666667%20(Phoenix%2C%20Arizona)&t=h" rel="geolocation nofollow" title="Phoenix, Arizona">Phoenix, Arizona</a> that I don’t get at least one stare-down from angry and distracted driver. This is when the other driver is so angry at me for some nonsense reason, that he—or even sometimes she–will mean-bug me as they drive by or if I should pass them. For the life of me, it seems like the most silliest of reasons to rage over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me paint the picture for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not a ‘pokey’ driver. I’m commonly 10-15 mph over the speed limit. I am courteous, I always use directionals. Always. My movements are NEVER a surprise to my fellow drivers and I am fair when it comes to letting others merge or when I want merge I am sure as try and not piss-off others drivers, In 65 mph Freeway sections, I’m doing 80 so there is discrepancy about my driving. I’’ve been in two accidents. Once, one of those fancy <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Toyota Prius">Priuses</a> zipped in front of me, cut me and my much larger car (a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Pacifica" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Chrysler Pacifica">Chrysler Pacifica</a>) totaled his. The other time, a VERY distracted driver T-Boned said Pacifica and totaled it. I walked away from both, very pissed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the lunatics. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I am a decent driver. In truth, I drive as if I believe every person on the road is out to get me. Works out well. So why all the angry mugs on the road? While I am the first one to admit (as I am not pre-disposed to being right) the answer lies with them. Here are the five character types we can all identify with: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://lifehacker.com/software/texter/lifehacker-code-texter-windows-238306.php" rel="homepage nofollow" title="Texter">Texter</a>.</b> This words-before-roads communications genius is often seen on highways and at stoplights, furiously sharing important info like industrial spy secrets, hacking the NSA's servers or even solving world hunger problem. It must be one of those things because these ding-dongs can’t even be bothered to drive or pay attention. What’s more, they are furiously startled and may even share an unhappyy emoticon via hand-gesture when you beep at them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. The Talker. </b>Who can be bothered driving when theres important topics to discuss like shoes, last night’s game or leaving kissy-face messages for their snuggle bunnies? Not these dopes. Driving at 15 mph in a 40 mph zone is all the rage and perfectly fine when you got stuff to say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. The Startled One.</b> This jittery dip pulls up to every stoplight, Yield and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_sign" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Stop sign">Stop Sign</a> in the county. Is then suddenly distracted by their <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.apple.com/iphone" rel="homepage nofollow" title="iPhone">iPhone</a> /Coffee / Text /radio or whatever they can find to distract them. hen when its time to go, they miss their cue and that’s when it gets weird, you or even someone behind you, honks their horn and and they practically leap out of their skin! Really? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. The Testosterone Fiend. </b>These troglodytes are often driving a giant white, ozone-crushing <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Super_Duty" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Ford Super Duty">Ford F-350</a>, with all the fixin’s. They swerve and accelerate in and out of traffic like its a game of groans. They cut you off and won’t think twice elf it. Then they flip you off, or even better, completely ignore the fact that you’re even on the road. Oh, and as an added bonus, these d-bags are men 100% of the time. (sigh)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Road">Road</a> Owner. </b>You are in the presence of royalty. Yup, this member of the roadway aristocracy needs you to get do one thing and one thing only get out of their way. Often a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.bmwgroup.com/" rel="homepage nofollow" title="BMW">BMW</a> or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://audi.com/" rel="homepage nofollow" title="Audi">Audi</a>, these entitled d-bags drive with a sense of purpose. Their purpose. Which is to say, you don’t exist and they are far more special than you are because you don’t matter. See? Now you know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in the end, I don’t know who’s more hostile–them or me–but in the end, is either prospect a good one? </span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-90214737265658719492014-07-30T06:45:00.001-07:002014-07-30T15:17:25.311-07:00Superheroes and the quest for the larger-than-life man<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;">(or what my beloved super heroes taught me that my Dad never could.)</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k1yI2v-DebY7AgpCvDisTbhLule6uNhbEPeZ-NO1ubSFh3i6rMcGrPU9CPwEiGaFLU60Xs5ZRZ9s9BiDtAchdyYEkSEOHVzYMsrhwQUVjl3umPfvcaT5JIBS2_ie7AUsuHuOKAIWxPvw/s1600/Bishop+n+Vision_72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="The Avengers Age Of Ultron, Marvel, Superheores" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k1yI2v-DebY7AgpCvDisTbhLule6uNhbEPeZ-NO1ubSFh3i6rMcGrPU9CPwEiGaFLU60Xs5ZRZ9s9BiDtAchdyYEkSEOHVzYMsrhwQUVjl3umPfvcaT5JIBS2_ie7AUsuHuOKAIWxPvw/s1600/Bishop+n+Vision_72dpi.jpg" height="337" title="The Vision and Bishop" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: x-small;">Illustration by Arthur <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=45.4641666667,9.19027777778&spn=0.1,0.1&q=45.4641666667,9.19027777778%20(Milan)&t=h" rel="geolocation nofollow" title="Milan">Milano</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The phenomenon that is superhero culture has grown exponentially and I think I know why. Thus, may I present my arm chair philosophy concerning the appeal of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.8833333333,-77.0166666667&spn=10.0,10.0&q=38.8833333333,-77.0166666667%20(United%20States)&t=h" rel="geolocation nofollow" title="United States">American</a> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhero" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Superhero">super hero</a> fantasy genre. They are urban myths, they are larger than life and they are what we all aspire to be. Men (and a few choice women) who stand tall in the face of adversity and do so even when triumph is not certain. What’s not to love?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a world where so many men (and again, a few choice women) abandon their families it is nice to see someone step forward and commit to taking the hits for the weak, meek and defenseless. To stand strong for the weak, to be there when… okay you get the idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In classic literature we call a protagonist’s plight the hero’s journey. This is earmarked with tragedy, sacrifice, pain, suffering and finally, redemption. Ancient heroes were quite super as well. Perseus, Agamemnon, Achilles, Hercules, Homer. Magic and mysticism has been wrapped around <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="King Arthur">King Arthur</a>. Instead of Gamma rays and and radioactive spider bites, these ancient heroes had special abilities derived from the Gods (Zeus, Hades, Athena, etc).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rise of the American super hero is largely due to the need for young boys looking to an ideal—for a blueprint of manhood. I speak from experience when I say that when there is no father, or father figure around, the child suffers. Trust me, in light of a bad father, like one who is abusive–in any way—often the child is better off. I mean if the Dad is there, actively engaged, encouraging, a spiritual compass, a family leader and is there to give a hug or an ass-kicking when needed. Believe me, there's nothing better for a child’s formative years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So who were my heroes?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Growing up, I wasn’t much into sports (that would come later) and so fantasy, science fiction and comic books were where I–an only child to a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_parent" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Single parent">single Mom</a>–raised in the shadow of a butt-ugly divorce–went to look for inspiration. I found that inspiration in the muscle-bound, testosterone-laden super-dudes of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.marvel.com/comics" rel="homepage nofollow" title="Marvel Comics">Marvel Comics</a>. Now and then I dug some DC books later, but all of DC’s characters–Superman, Batman, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaman" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Aquaman">Aquaman</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Lantern" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Green Lantern">Green Lantern</a>, The Flash among others–were largely unrelatable to me. They all seemed like perfect white men leading already perfect, privileged lives. They didn’t seem to struggle with life like Marvel’s characters. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.marvel.com/comics/Spider-Man" rel="homepage nofollow" title="Spider-Man">Peter Parker</a> (a.k.a. Spiderman) was a nerd who was terrorized at school, who wasn’t popular with the ladies, wasn’t a jock and because his parents were dead was being raised by his aunt and uncle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now THAT was a character I could relate to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It gets better. The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Men" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="X-Men">X-Men</a>, largely teenagers, had to deal with all the same problems as most American teens but also had to contend with weird powers they didn’t understand, world-conquering maniacs, giant killer-robots built to hunt them, alien attacks and crazy murderers around every corner (hmm, sound like my old neighborhood growing up). Iron Man was a brilliant industrialist but also a raging alcoholic. The Hulk was a euphemism for rage, like a modern-day Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Powerman (Luke Cage) was an ex-pimp and street enforcer turned 'good', the Fantastic Four were a dysfunctional family of misfits and–well, again, you get the idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I still haven’t answered the question yet, who were my (super) heroes? First was The Vision. A super-android who was built to destroy the Avengers, a team of haphazard do-gooders. He chose differently and eventually fell in love with, married and divorced the Scarlet Witch, a mutant sorceress and long-time Avenger. He was an android, a synthetic man, who was built to do the bidding of his robot master, Ultron–a sentient AI who was obsessed with killing off the human race but who also had a huge Oedipus complex. I was bi-racial (actually I still am) and I could relate to someone who was a part of two different worlds but fit into neither. Now don’t get me wrong, when the s#!t went down, you wanted this guy on your side. And that’s what drew me to him. In spite of his inner turmoil, he knew his allegiances. In short, he would make the correct choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there was Bishop, a big, powerful mutant super-soldier from the near future. Muscle-bound with a big attitude and even bigger guns. He was a leader and took no s#!t from anyone. And he was Black. Something else as a bi-racial kid (half black, half white) needed to see was balance. I could see someone who is strong and tough who isn’t a blonde-haired blue-eyed ideal I could never live up to. Something else I fancied about Marvel, they were diverse. The X-Men had members from Africa, Latin America, Canada, Germany, Russia. They even had a Native American strongman named Warpath! Marvel created the first black superhero in the Black Panther and frequently had their women equally powerful (or more so) than their male counterparts (single-Moms rejoice!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These fictional characters had all the shortcomings of a regular person yet, were able to rise above their station and do extraordinary things. My father, who never once showed his face to me, was a man who I never got to know. That was his choice. Mine was to find examples of manhood that were good, solid compasses. I turned out to be a father–and eventually, sadly enough, a single Dad–who is always there with hugs, words of encouragement or the threat of a smack down when needed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My kids know I mean business when I say something. While I’m the farthest thing from perfect I share my love of comic books, art, movies, reading and sports with my daughter, 17, and three teenage sons. We even attend local ComiCons together. I believe in supporting my kids as much as any committed parent. I’m there for them and want to coach my kids to be the very best they can be. To accomplish acts of kinds and unselfish citizenship. To make a positive mark on the world and if at all possible, leap tall obstacles in a single bound. Just like the heroes I grew up idolizing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all, would the the Vision or Bishop do any less?</span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-29841719651497434292014-07-24T07:54:00.000-07:002014-07-25T10:19:45.588-07:00You should love advertising more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tune in, turn it up and settle down, a<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Advertising">dvertising</a> is here to stay. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admit it, you hate advertising. Ads interrupt TV shows, your jams on the radio, they pop up on your favorite movie, game or news-based <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Website">web site</a>s. They come up on my smartphone APPs. They’re everywhere! We even have TV shows that are 'brought to us' with ‘limited interruption’ by [insert advertiser’s name here]. I was always intrigued about how ice cream, butter, diapers or a movie could ‘bring me’ anything. They’re not alive. Recently, one of my teen sons had asked me, “why do we have to sit though these dumb ads, Dad?” I told him "we just have to, son." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Like movies?</span> </b>You better like <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_placement" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Product placement">product placements</a>, then. Every time you see a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.apple.com/mac/" rel="homepage nofollow" title="Macintosh">Mac</a>, a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.menuism.com/restaurant-locations/starbucks-coffee-39564" rel="menuism nofollow" title="Starbuck's Coffee Locations">Starbucks</a> or a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.bmwgroup.com/" rel="homepage nofollow" title="BMW">BMW</a>, you better know those companies paid a hefty price to appear in those cameos. And if they mention the product by name? Cha-ching! Makes you want to say ‘no more ads ever!’ right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slow your flow. Advertising is the sole reason any of these entertaining mediums even exist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>Radio by advertising to sell products.</b> </span>Music and weekly serials (episodes to you youngins’) kept audiences captivated with entertaining stories, and soap operas (the term derives from soap companies sponsoring weekly radio and tv shows). Then delivering their buy-my-product message. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>Like <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Television">watching TV</a>?</b> </span>Same thing. Networks created TV shows that would attract viewership and then go tell advertisers how many people would see the show and sell ad space between rehearsals (or ‘acts’) of the show. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>Websites aren’t free.</b> </span>You can visit, pay for them and stay on them as ing as you like but the cost of server and domain name maintenance, paying people to create images, programing and written content is an expense. Thats where ad dollars swoop in, once again and save the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>Magazines, newspapers, comic books</b></span> even your mailbox is full of advertising. You don’t need me to tell you, Its sad when the thing that created our entertainment is so completely hated by us. But know this, if advertising disappeared tomorrow, so would magazines, newspapers, the internet, television, radio, even the technology that runs your cars, phones and cameras. Everything would grind to a halt or cease to exist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So watching that damn <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-generated_imagery" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Computer-generated imagery">CGI</a> lizard try and sell me insurance or watching hip kids dance to promote a soft drink, bubble gum or a smartphone is annoying. But let’s face facts; we’re all consumers on one level or another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, advertising can be intrusive, but considering the alternative, I guess I better those whacky <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentos" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Mentos">Mentos</a> kids sell me on a fruity new flavor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/" rel="hulu nofollow" title="Mad Men">Mad Men</a> is about to start and we all must make sacrifices. </span></div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-25623511754174358912014-07-16T05:51:00.001-07:002014-07-16T05:51:36.974-07:00Embrace the creative you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLsPB-OfluyvXpOlQIaTtnxPPQOaosubn72f1UHgGe3jN-0b4w0RvusFLnSL9jUfbzgmBqjaMDSC3FVMCcvcNBNxAfrEIfS9B3LlfYa7A9fU6J0rRNyZEhRWPkKBaDT8y1d7pSkqYMdlS/s1600/STTC.Creative+Side_071514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLsPB-OfluyvXpOlQIaTtnxPPQOaosubn72f1UHgGe3jN-0b4w0RvusFLnSL9jUfbzgmBqjaMDSC3FVMCcvcNBNxAfrEIfS9B3LlfYa7A9fU6J0rRNyZEhRWPkKBaDT8y1d7pSkqYMdlS/s1600/STTC.Creative+Side_071514.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've long been fascinated by the beautiful and completely perplexing world of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_art" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Modern art">modern art</a> and culture. Our world seems like such a better place to me with art in all it’s many forms; painting, sculpture, architecture, writing, film making and design, to name only a high-level few. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now maybe it’s because I spent most of my formative years drawing and painting (I had some wonderfully imaginative dinosaur drawings from age 7), spending my Jr high-<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_term" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Academic term">school years</a> trying to perfect drawing ‘Naked chicks’ (hey it was the early 80’s, don’t judge) an spending most of my high school non-class time, participating in plays, creating animated films, painting building-sized murals and airbrushing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boy do I miss those days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next was five+ years of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_school" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Art school">art school</a>. I loved it! Every grueling, demanding, painful minute of it. Why? Because it wasn’t about what was right or wrong, about performance quotas (at least not in the traditional sense), it wasn’t about paying to learn crap you’d never use in the real world. No, instead, it was theory, subjection, analytics, design principles and historical events that helped shape art and societal trends. From <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Ancient Greece">Ancient Greece</a>, The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Roman Empire">Roman Empire</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Japan" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="History of Japan">Feudal Japan</a>, from the depths of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Africa">Africa</a> to the heights of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.0333333333,31.2166666667&spn=10.0,10.0&q=30.0333333333,31.2166666667%20(Egypt)&t=h" rel="geolocation nofollow" title="Egypt">Egypt</a>. It was an overwhelming and vastly exhilarating part of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These early formative experiences inform why I could only work as a professional creative. Its why I always will. Oh I have tried, believe me, to do other jobs, it is NOT possible. I have held the following positions:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cook</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Ice cream">Ice Cream</a> Parlor Server</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maintenance Tech</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corporate Furniture Mover</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roof Painter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mail Room Clerk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employment Manager</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cashier</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">None of those jobs were bad. Not one one of them. They all simply showed me that I was not cut out for any of them. Sure you can ‘do’ a job. But I was NOT fulfilled by any of them–and would never be. My mind would not accept doing those jobs, its the wiring of 25 years of professional knowledge, 18 years of schooling and a lifetime of knowledge and that this is what I am meant to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not for everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While my daughter fully embraces a life that includes a place for <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Creativity">creativity</a> and art and another son who loves to write, my other two sons have no interest whatsoever. And that's just fine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And lastly, while I'm on the topic, I've learned creativity is a facet of how we go about our job, whatever it may be. I know what it means for me but I recognize it means different things for different people. I encourage my children to learn and do and see as much of the world and consider as many diverse cultures and careers as they can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s how they will begin to embrace their own creative personalities. There could be no more important life lesson than one that helps you know who you are. I'd explain further, but I have some more creativity to explore... don't you?</span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-3784720839836028062014-06-30T07:20:00.002-07:002014-06-30T07:24:00.733-07:00The truth about stupid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKWG6EtDa10FDm7lmEFpb37jZeHu3zy0pzd8gVxxynBgWfeM9vheeTZ6yXUlywt-bwkVoFQ_qnNw6-_u0i4lLimq1qFw__OZuMV-tyjokf3VImb7MJLMsJhyphenhyphenuJo_qZAI1XG9nPRE1S7Sc/s1600/STTC.Stupid+People_063014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKWG6EtDa10FDm7lmEFpb37jZeHu3zy0pzd8gVxxynBgWfeM9vheeTZ6yXUlywt-bwkVoFQ_qnNw6-_u0i4lLimq1qFw__OZuMV-tyjokf3VImb7MJLMsJhyphenhyphenuJo_qZAI1XG9nPRE1S7Sc/s1600/STTC.Stupid+People_063014.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forrest Gump nailed it when he said, "Stupid is as stupid does." I'm always at amazed at how little people seem to know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to warn you now, this post is for people who already know stuff. Because those that are surprised about things that should be common knowledge, seem to have little-to-no interest in gaining more knowledge. No one knows everything but there are something people should just… you know, KNOW.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I can often come off as a snooty intellectual or history buff or trivia nerd. There is more to the world that I don’t know than what I do. But I revel in learning new things. So you can imagine my dismay when I learned of some of the following facts about common knowledge:</span></div>
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<li>23 % of Americans today thinks the Sun revolves around the Earth</li>
<li>12% of adults in the US think Hamburgers are made from Ham</li>
<li>Almost 30% think <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Benjamin Franklin">Ben Franklin</a> was once a US President (including some Congressmen and women!)</li>
<li>18% of movie-goers in 2001 had no idea <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Pearl Harbor">Pearl Harbor</a> had even happened and over 20% of movie watchers didn’t know there was an actual Titanic that sunk (that’s MILLIONS of people!), and thus shocked by the movie’s ending</li>
<li>As of 2008, almost 14% of 10th graders couldn’t identify where the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.8833333333,-77.0166666667&spn=10.0,10.0&q=38.8833333333,-77.0166666667%20(United%20States)&t=h" rel="geolocation nofollow" title="United States">United States</a> was on a map of the world. </li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What the hell is going on? Who are these people and how are they able to even graduate the 4th grade let alone <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_school" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="High school">high School</a>? My God these are facts that the poorest children in the poorest parts of the world know.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look I get it. “History is boring,” or “I’m just not good at math” or my favorite “i just don’t test well.” How many excuses for stupid are we going to tolerate in this society? For crying out loud people, WE HAVE THE INTERNET!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now commonly, I am prone to rant in this blog but in light of offering something new, I offer some incredible tidbit meant to enlighten my fellow citizens. Now I am well aware that most of them don’t read and are likely not going to see this, but indulge me, dear reader.</span></div>
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<li class="li4"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Mona Lisa">The Mona Lisa</a> painting doesn’t have eyebrows or eyelashes.</span></li>
<li class="li4"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honey is the only food that doesn’t spoil. </span></li>
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<li class="li4"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1938, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.time.com/" rel="homepage nofollow" title="Time (magazine)">Time Magazine</a> chose <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Adolf Hitler">Adolf Hitler</a> for <i>man of the year</i>.</span></li>
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<li class="li4"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buttermilk does not contain any butter. It’s usually a simple recipe containing lemon juice, white vinegar and milk </span></li>
<li class="li4"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.6833333333,139.766666667&spn=10.0,10.0&q=35.6833333333,139.766666667%20(Japan)&t=h" rel="geolocation nofollow" title="Japan">Japan</a> is commonly thought of as a tiny island nation, but it's actually about the size of California. In fact, it's larger than many <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_in_Europe" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe">European countries</a>.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, these are all arbitrary but look at what the internet can do for us. And now, I am just that many facts smarter and I can go to bed forever more knowing my honey won’t spoil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish I could say the same for the intelligence of some of my countrymen.</span></div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-19248728555294296672014-06-27T07:45:00.001-07:002014-06-27T07:45:53.536-07:00Five Signs that the Zombie Apocalypse has begun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yfAyHOfsE2ByPb1MI48Ps6lWGEye9g-yqbjqrPtSUL4BYzatrZcFZvV8bmx6rgpeR94AHkvTq69yedx0oNz3GyDEd6_G92iio55rPHxYpW3yX93cvTizncIOOEcJWfmcnLvlzrRIK09L/s1600/STTC.Zombies_062614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yfAyHOfsE2ByPb1MI48Ps6lWGEye9g-yqbjqrPtSUL4BYzatrZcFZvV8bmx6rgpeR94AHkvTq69yedx0oNz3GyDEd6_G92iio55rPHxYpW3yX93cvTizncIOOEcJWfmcnLvlzrRIK09L/s1600/STTC.Zombies_062614.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unless you’ve been living in a cave or a deserted island over the last 15 years, you know Zombies are big. The story of the dead rising to plague the living is the stuff of nightmares. Since George R. Romero’s<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063350/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank"> Night of the living dead</a>, the 1968 horror cult classic that depicts waves of ‘undead’ terrorizing a small town of clueless townsfolk, have kept us on edge and wondering when this all begs for decades. The pulse-less fiends are in search of one thing and one thing only; brains. These mindless ghouls have infiltrated our movies, books, video games and TV shows. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it’s all just make believe right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a verifiable list both factual, and op-ed, that reveal 5 indicators that confirm the Zombie apocalypse is heading to a hometown near you:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Brainlessness is alive and well</b> As the numbers of texting-while-driving fatalities rise all over the world, Teen Mom shows see ratings explosions in a culture that reveres a lack of accomplishment as a badge of honor. Texting while driving? Phhhfftt! Amateurs. Why not paint oil paintings, watch TV, make a sandwich or even take a nap while driving on the freeway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. People are trying to eat other (literally)</b> Real life news events such as a Florida homeless man being attacked by a guy literally trying to eat his arm, or the man in Texas who was killed by his roommate and partially eaten. ‘What the hell is going on’ you say? Your answer is two words that rhyme with Flomie Scholopolypse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Zombie and post apocalyptic story lines are more popular than ever.</b> The walking dead is by far the most popular and talked about TV show. If you aren’t watching well, again… cave dwell much? Show like The Ship show a world where mankind’s downfall is at the hands of a killer infection. Television programing aside, movies like I am Legend, Resident Evil, World War Z, 28 Days Later and even the new Dawn of The Planet of the Apes all portray a world where some infectious disease wipes out most human life and civilization as we know it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. The US Government has a real-life contingency for a “Zombie Outbreak” </b>It’s true. The United States military has to draw up plans for every potential threat to the eel-being and sovereignty of the United States. The department of homeland security has a zombie outbreak contingency in the works in case the population balance between the living and the dead walking around main street dramatically shifts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Common sense and general knowledge is at an all-time low.</b> Don’t take my word for it, look at non-paid general access television. Have you counted the number of brainless, no-value-tomorrow programs there are on the big four networks? We elevate racist and misogynistic idiots to star status (Kim Khardasian, Honey Boo-Boo, Duck Dynasty I’m glaring at you), and we wonder why kids today can’t identify more than 4 countries on a world map or can’t spell worth a damn or don’t even know how many World Wars the world has endured. The dumbos are multiplying and their brainlessness is spreading. Like an infection. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, pretty sure my brain will be top of the menu on Zombie’s top sought-after yummiest brains. We are so screwed. </span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-78975202671283430372014-05-23T08:05:00.000-07:002014-05-23T10:09:13.837-07:00I figured it out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC3C5yaT7iZI-NcDAfgKCuzsLyvoc2ou4ZBZ82cOQeWN1gRYgZ-EdmONo90CdOOJHEuF6VVvZ3YOeGZ4P2mM-YxfHCSCTH-XH0Q2xp20CZo8gqjPdui9SbP8aobh1mxEhOqvjUfSZteKs/s1600/STTC.Pump+Up+Th+Volume_052314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC3C5yaT7iZI-NcDAfgKCuzsLyvoc2ou4ZBZ82cOQeWN1gRYgZ-EdmONo90CdOOJHEuF6VVvZ3YOeGZ4P2mM-YxfHCSCTH-XH0Q2xp20CZo8gqjPdui9SbP8aobh1mxEhOqvjUfSZteKs/s1600/STTC.Pump+Up+Th+Volume_052314.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To anyone who knows me, you know I am a huge movie buff. Yes I do co-write an amateur (but fast gaining readership) sci-fi review blog called the <a href="http://www.theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Boxed Office</a>. While I'm usually a general lover of cinema; from foreign films to the occasional Rom Com (Romantic Comedies) to documentaries, I enjoy my projected-light story time. And if you know that you also know that I have had it up to here with the movie-going scene. While I absolutely LIVE for the big screen experience, I absolutely LOATHE being in theaters with people who talk, text and generally act like inconsiderate butt-heads once the lights go out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gone are the days when moviegoers were courteous to others and would just STFU when the movie (or trailers) began. Ushers even used to walk the isles to remind all the disorderly dimwits the show is about to begin and it's time to shut your pie-hole. What’s worse, is the reality of pulling out phones and texting, talking or (gulp!) even gaming during the film. Who the hell ARE you people?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was about a week ago when the answer to this quandary suddenly occurred to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generally, I am NOT a violent guy. Few things are worth getting in someone’s face over but really, I paid my admission fee, so I’m entitled to enjoy the movie–preferably without having to hear the BS details of of the so-called lives of inconsiderate rubes. Yeah that’s right I said it. I’ll say it again. Rubes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four easy words are the solution to decades of frustration for millions of people who only want to go and watch a movie in peace—and it makes the movie-watching experience that much better to boot. Are you ready? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pump up the volume. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve witnessed it firsthand. When the volume goes up, the shenanigans get drowned out. When the volume is high, the ding-dongs can’t think. They don’t pull out their phones, they don’t comment or talk and I don’t have to hear them hork-down their crunchy salty over-priced buttery snacks. It’s downright magical. So, Hollywood, here’s my proposal: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t fight these fools. They have no manners and no common sense. Just drown them out. No one will complain that the volume is too loud. No one. If a few little old ladies in Tulucca Lake bitch to the manager, you can tell them about the master plan and give them a free extra-small popcorn (a $13 value!). Everyone wins. No one will get into fights, get shot or beaten up over rude behavior or have to suffer through some idiot’s critique of every trailer and major plot development. Since you won’t ask your ushers and staff to tell the troglodytes to knock it off, the least you can do is to do me the common courtesy of helping me to enjoy the film. After all, its at least the pretense to why I'm there in the first place. Better yet, it won't cost you a dime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make it so. </span></div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-51361873376539771132014-05-06T20:00:00.001-07:002014-05-06T20:00:26.420-07:00When should kids answer the “Call Of Duty”?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuQ5fQGBUs3QRBcyk9yAuVJWAAH2Qx-3pcBnlytdoXeIIYapRCVArZnSFcqqxph3KNTKD3beX5-q14QVemraDGYGeT6TlKhEAXMreRjxz9405mCMrollZ0Orzp433G_QCPCiyezPhNWMc/s1600/STTC.Kids+n++Gaming_050614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuQ5fQGBUs3QRBcyk9yAuVJWAAH2Qx-3pcBnlytdoXeIIYapRCVArZnSFcqqxph3KNTKD3beX5-q14QVemraDGYGeT6TlKhEAXMreRjxz9405mCMrollZ0Orzp433G_QCPCiyezPhNWMc/s1600/STTC.Kids+n++Gaming_050614.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">When’s the perfect time to introduce kids to volatile, highly emotional gaming? When they’re ready.</span></b></div>
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[Nearly] every parent faces a question thought unimaginable with past generations. When should my child learn to slaughter other people–albeit virtually–online? Game franchises like Battlefield, Call Of Duty, Tom Clancey (RIP) and a host of others including <a href="http://gearsofwar.xbox.com/en-US/AgeGate?source=%252f" target="_blank">Gears of War</a>, Metal Gear Solid, <a href="http://www.2kgames.com/bioshock/" target="_blank">BioShock</a> and <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us" target="_blank">Halo</a> all contain adult-themed video game experiences that are at best inappropriate to young minds, especially under the age of 11 or 12. </div>
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I speak from experience. </div>
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I remember my boys were aged 6 and 8 years old when I put the controller in their hands to begin taking down alien baddies in games like Halo. What’s the harm right? They’re ugly, dog-faced savages that growl and spew blue blood (not the affluent cape cod estate kind of blue blood, but) they actually sprayed blue hemoglobin when shot between the eyes. What could be the harm be in that? </div>
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Turns out, a lot. </div>
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At age six, my twin boys began to show increased aggressive tendencies (should of seen that one coming) and began having minor but persistent nightmares. Even while playing the games they would get audibly loud and severely agitated at anything that would not go their way. </div>
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So was I a bad parent for subjecting these young minds to this kind of animated violence? Probably. Make no bones about it, we went to parks, played in backyards and pools, went to (kids) movies and played board games, rode bike and the whole nine. I sincerely wanted my kids to enjoy gaming like I did, but they just weren’t ready for what I was introducing to them.</div>
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My kids are well (enough) adjusted these days but I would say this; when it comes to introducing kids to more violent video games, the later the better. A tough prospect for a gamer-dad, but a necessary one. Each parent has to decide for themselves. Your kids will hit you with all the classics; “Dad it’ll be fine it’s just a game” or “I already played it (which IMMEDIATELY should become another conversation) and my favorite; “All my friends are all playing it already!” So what? If I was their Dad I would ban them from playing it, too. </div>
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Technology plays such a critical role in the lives of our kids’ generation, way more so than in mine. Its a necessary evil. Just remember, you’re in control of the controller, making you the ultimate level boss.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><b>Arthur Milano</b> (Gamertag Arth Vader) can be found on the XBOX LIVE & Playstation Plus networks. He is a hopelessly addicted gamer, writer, designer, artist, movie reviewer and most importantly, father of four. He can be frequently found sharing thoughts on parenting, gaming, career and work-life balance on blogs like <a href="http://newdadventures.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">New Dadventures</a>, writing Sci-Fi movie reviews at the <a href="http://theboxedoffice.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Boxed Office</a> and co-hosts a parenting video-game podcast and blog called <a href="http://www.controllerissues.com/" target="_blank">Controller Issues</a>. </span></span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-46502020707904450212014-04-30T18:18:00.001-07:002014-04-30T20:52:35.528-07:00I’d buy that for a dollar <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Jss9ItxdYNwXBiK6lNpuPACa4fPc3QQdGq0Z0LZBLg0r7ZCYs9BimT5xp2d2uaWkd0KCdetF_OCYVXnEPSyZkPmeJHoIVedo1sCCh5AgDqZaySsFnnpg-xqUyNlWAmZSF7Dm6IWMNr7J/s1600/STTC.Old+Spice_043014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Jss9ItxdYNwXBiK6lNpuPACa4fPc3QQdGq0Z0LZBLg0r7ZCYs9BimT5xp2d2uaWkd0KCdetF_OCYVXnEPSyZkPmeJHoIVedo1sCCh5AgDqZaySsFnnpg-xqUyNlWAmZSF7Dm6IWMNr7J/s1600/STTC.Old+Spice_043014.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How long can we last?</b> Long ago while living in my home state of Massachusetts, I bought a can of men’s shaving cream. It wasn’t some weird impulse buy and I wasn’t being particularly finicky about brand loyalty so any can would do. This can of Old Spice was a buck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey, I had to shave and I needed to do it cheap. The can (pictured above) was as good as any to me. So I plunked down my $1 (plus applicable tax) and I was good to go. Little did I know this can would be with me, through thick and thin, through good times and bad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me explain. This can survived <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England" target="_blank">New England</a> snow storms, two trips across country, the humidity of Atlanta and the blistering heat of Arizona. My marriage, the birth of my four beautiful children, my divorce, two dogs, several cars and jobs. When I needed a close shave for a job interview, this can was there. Sure I used others, but none lasted as long as 'old red'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While my kids were growing up and my beard was growing out, this little can of shaving foam kept me clean, looking good and smelling fresh. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two weeks ago, it pumped it’s last foamy lather. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I winced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My inner hoarder wants to keep such a sturdy and unbelievably durable item forever. I won’t, though this can has been with me through some of the most exciting times of my life. And for the hundreds of shaves it’s provided over the course of the last 20 years, this durable little can has been there, even when other people–and things–in my life came and went. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can’t put a price on that kind of stick-to-itiveness. That kind of dependability is worth it’s weight in gold. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m glad I bought it for a dollar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So long, 'old red.' </span></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-24254249528394268552014-03-23T10:43:00.000-07:002014-03-24T13:24:51.814-07:00Life Lessons In The Brackets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCy-Q-mjAnu8Gq0GMfXm_TqorKGuevRSXqnD-Y5aQYVbwlw2sWMJyjfDDuVVw7zBp9FXpAEBatYH9kBi6PX5lixtJtjGhwOQYyteaWIKIhju-H6yDRdnMgKlQKHYLQph4n602hDoiZ__u/s1600/March+Madness_03232014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCy-Q-mjAnu8Gq0GMfXm_TqorKGuevRSXqnD-Y5aQYVbwlw2sWMJyjfDDuVVw7zBp9FXpAEBatYH9kBi6PX5lixtJtjGhwOQYyteaWIKIhju-H6yDRdnMgKlQKHYLQph4n602hDoiZ__u/s1600/March+Madness_03232014.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what can the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-men/d1" rel="homepage nofollow" title="NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship">NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament</a> teach us about life?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s that NCAA Final Four time of year once again. And once again we're all a flutter over filling out brackets and trying to anticipate who will win–and when. It makes us all pseudo-<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Basketball">basketball</a> wizards. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many in the basketball world believe that tourney hoops is some of the best basketball ever. The passion and emotion exhibited by the fans, the players and even the commentators far surpasses that of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.nba.com/" rel="homepage nofollow" title="National Basketball Association">NBA</a> or international rules basketball. Some believe it's because those kids are playing their hearts out for those pro scouts in the stands. Million-dollar <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/contract-drafting-and-review.html" rel="lawlibrary nofollow" title="Contract">contracts</a> are on the line and every shot, every <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_throw" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Free throw">free throw</a>–possibly every dribble–brings them that much closer to a giant payday with the coveted NBA rookie contract. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s the complex and business side of college round-ball. There is something else, though. In tournament play, it's one-game elimination. One and done. Every game matters. No series, no <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playoff_format" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Playoff format">best of five</a> or seven games. Snooze you lose. Just like in life. Arguably, a powerful lesson for <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_basketball" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="College basketball">college hoops</a> players and college-bound players alike as well as students of all ages (kids, I'm looking at you). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>But wait! </b>That isn’t even the best part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best part is that a # 14 seed can upset a # 3 seed. A number one ranked team (or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Seed">seed</a>) can be toppled by a relative unknown, a nobody. And you know what the lesson is there, don’t you? That there are no guarantees, no such thing as a sure thing. No matter where you’re ranked, you have a shot at the big time. You have to be a giant-slayer and the road ahead is wrought with the toughest obstacles—but it can be done. Because it has been done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best part of the NCAA tournament is that we can–even secretly–route for the underdog. Since the beginning of this nation’s history, we have been the underdog, the one least likely to succeed, the16th seed. It lifts our hearts and gives us hope that, even the least of us, can be champions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there is something pretty damn reassuring about that. </span></div>
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<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=4dbf8bff-702e-446d-9499-004609d813a2" /></a></div>
ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-54965973778311244912014-02-20T06:10:00.001-08:002014-02-20T08:33:24.505-08:00Godiva only knows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6LpdXLF1FfnEj1OmXDaE6jzOWzMZNiyHd6bPoBcw9uXzp5GEOeaEaRixhR2p4L_oU42Dbx7XLNhVFGlFn_nfVTSPSIZGWsyXKFMX6Sy9pHDfHSflNpTght4J1tMlwFe3cLtSYKDSwsp_/s1600/STTC.GODIVA_Ads.021914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6LpdXLF1FfnEj1OmXDaE6jzOWzMZNiyHd6bPoBcw9uXzp5GEOeaEaRixhR2p4L_oU42Dbx7XLNhVFGlFn_nfVTSPSIZGWsyXKFMX6Sy9pHDfHSflNpTght4J1tMlwFe3cLtSYKDSwsp_/s1600/STTC.GODIVA_Ads.021914.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I usually despise when <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxury_goods" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Luxury goods">luxury brands</a> do traditional <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_market" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Mass market">mass market</a> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.break.com/c/pop-culture-videos/tv/commercials/" rel="break nofollow" title="Commercials">advertising</a>. I find that it dilutes the brand message. Then I chanced upon this</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (ahem) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sweet series of promotional <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poster" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Poster">posters</a> for <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.godiva.com/" rel="homepage nofollow" title="Godiva Chocolatier">Godiva</a> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Chocolate">chocolates</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I still don't subscribe to advertising purely for the sake of advertising, this series of posters (again, damn near works of art unto themselves) make much more sense as posters, possibly for display in malls and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialty_store" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Specialty store">specialty shop</a> promenades. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a professional creative, I try to always encourage my kids to think outside the box (of chocolates). I think this is a fantastic example of how to do just that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This campaign is imaginative, unique and, in my eyes, highly successful. Hard to find all of those in one body of work–I believe this is one of those campaigns. What do you think?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Suddenly, I'm overcome with a desire for chocolate and caramel.) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8kDFK6xr8b2iOeuqilEDbg0wCogx6_qoWWJ2UJcrztVDnJy1gobO_jVfi4TKHGDxH_Ze92q33aKpdiZ2QU2axCWUIVssONfnNTl7I_Fj7VaMCvJ3mOpAoxnGUNZTL7WJYIr2nZbFyK-R/s1600/Godiva+1_woman+&+neighing+horse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8kDFK6xr8b2iOeuqilEDbg0wCogx6_qoWWJ2UJcrztVDnJy1gobO_jVfi4TKHGDxH_Ze92q33aKpdiZ2QU2axCWUIVssONfnNTl7I_Fj7VaMCvJ3mOpAoxnGUNZTL7WJYIr2nZbFyK-R/s1600/Godiva+1_woman+&+neighing+horse.png" height="640" width="451" /></a></div>
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304729842534651682.post-58565908098139437902014-02-14T06:44:00.001-08:002014-02-14T06:44:24.233-08:00Embracing My (Newly Adopted) Viking Heritage <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I attended my first-ever <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_fair" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Renaissance fair">Renaissance festival</a>. '</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a hearty time with plenty of grog and mead, sturdy lads and fiery lasses, bouts of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jousting" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Jousting">jousting</a> to rattle your loins with feasts, beasts and performance to free you from your coins.'</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, I'll stop. Hey, shut up, so I'm no <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.last.fm/music/J.R.R.%2BTolkien" rel="lastfm nofollow" title="J.R.R. Tolkien">Tolkien</a> alright? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with good friends, two of my sons and I rumbled out into the desert hills in Phoenix' East Valley and I dare say a good time was had by all.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Viking Code</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amongst the many stores, shoppes, and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concession_stand" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Concession stand">concession stands</a>, I chanced upon the fair storefront of Gryphon Song Gems, the collection of the hand carved, hand-crafted Celtic <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engraved_gem" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Engraved gem">carved gems</a> & jewelry of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_craftsman" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Master craftsman">master craftsman</a> and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewellery" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Jewellery">jeweler</a>, Epaul Fischer. A calm, unassuming man who loves what he does and is damn good at it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his pavilion, you will be dazzled by a breathtaking array of carvings in gems, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precious_metal" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Precious metal">precious metals</a> and custom <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_knot" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Celtic knot">Celtic jewelry</a>. One piece caught my eye. A beautiful Viking-influenced design bearing the interlocking heads of a boar, an eagle and a wolf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The price was beyond me but I took his info and promised to look online. When I left, little did I know, things got interesting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later in the day, his assistant (a good friend of mine I have known for year and watched grow up alongside my own children) presented me with a gift at another event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Epaul had gifted the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendant" rel="wikipedia nofollow" title="Pendant">pendant</a> to me. He told her that when he carves a piece, he knows that each piece belongs to someone but often does NOT know who that person is until they make themselves known. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For this pendant, that person was me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was floored. I couldn't accept this extravagant gift. I took it and went back to his pavilion. I thanked him and told him it was a beautiful gesture but that I could only take it to pay for it. At first he refused but I told him something I believe as deeply as any conviction I've ever held:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Artists and creative people must share their art with others. We are duty bound as writers, designers, painters, photographers, Illustrators, textile pros, craftsman, singers, performers to support each other in our specified skilled vocations. By word of mouth, by our participation and by our patronage.</span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I purchased the pendant, at a portion of it's value (the rare stone it is carved into alone commands a certain price). You can see it and hundreds of other designs and custom carved jewelry </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.gemartist.com/" target="_blank">here</a></u></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you Epaul. I will always cherish my pendant and will do my share to always promote such excellent work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such is the Viking way.</span><br />
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ArthV8Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425459411323956859noreply@blogger.com0